verb

allow

uh-LOW

verb

To give permission for something to happen.

"The teacher allowed the students to leave early."

"Photography is not allowed inside the museum."

To make something possible.

"The extra funding allowed the project to go ahead."

To set aside time, money, or another resource for something.

"Allow an extra hour for traffic on the way to the airport."

To admit or acknowledge something as true, often reluctantly.

"She allowed that he might have a point."

How to Use Allow

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo let something happen, or to set something aside in advance for a purpose.

Common pairings

allow time allow for not allowed allow access

Word Forms

allowed past tense, allow plural, allowed plural, allows singular, allow singular, allowed singular, allowest singular, allowedst singular, alloweth singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “allow” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The teacher _____ the students to leave early.

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman alouer, which blended two separate Latin roots — one meaning "to praise/approve" and one meaning "to place/assign" — giving English both the "permit" and "set aside" senses.

Antonyms

ban forbid prohibit

Related Words

ban sanction choose forbid hinder cancel tolerate prohibit

Rhymes for allow

wallow hallow fallow swallow shallow marshmallow

See all rhymes for allow →

People Also Searched

ban forbid prohibit sanction choose hinder cancel tolerate